248 Responses to “Show #203: The Braves Make the Postseason and We Celebrate Chipper”

Here’s what I can’t let go of. Our costly errors ended with them scoring runs. Their errors ended with Umpires calls taking our runs away. I get that Simmons was hit in the head and he was out. But after that and after the ball dropped in the infield part of the outfield they threw the ball around like little leaguers too. Which leads me to conclude once again that the baseball gods hate the Braves. We need to change the team mascot to the Unicorns or something to shake them up.

– Seems impossible that after the Heyward catch and the Ross HR that we let the game slip away. And that Chipper error absolutely changed the fate of the game. Chipper should feel terrible, he only hurt the team last night.

– I know it’s easy sitting in your living room to judge the bottles being thrown on the field, but it felt absolutely right sitting in the stadium (for the record, I didn’t throw anything – but I was with them in spirit).

fwiw, the ESPN radio annoucers, or at least one of the two, gave the Braves fan kudos, saying “as bad as it is to do this, it’s great to see Atlanta this into a ballgame, into their team, haven’t seen that in a long time.” Of course, he was corrected by his partyline-toe-ing partner quickly, but it was too late. Something real squeaked through.

-On the Simmons bunt, I was proud that Fredi protected him. But seriously I’m worried about his baseball IQ. Somebody needs to talk to the kid.

-Wren has alot of hard work in figuring out how to replace the wins we lose without Bourn and Chipper.

– 3 years ago Uggla and McCann were the best at their position. Now they are liabilities?

-Never did I ever think an infield fly rule could be called in mid left field. You learn something new every day. The rule was designed to protect the baserunners but on that play it protected the defense.

David, we’ve been in full time ministry of the Presbyterian nature for 15 years. The last 8 my husband pastored a church in NC. Just recently we moved to GA where he now works for a non profit as Director of Stewardship. Also, being closer helps fund my addiction to the Braves. He’s still licensed and preaches on occasion. For the record Rev Nicole is not my type. Prado on the other hand…

The spot where the ball landed was 225 feet from home plate, according to Baseball Info Solutions. In the past three seasons, there were six infield-fly rulings in the majors on balls that were not caught, and the longest measured at 178 feet – 47 feet less than the ball Simmons hit.

It’s a shame that instead of owning up to the call, Joe Torre and MLB decide to lie and say it was the right call. I’m upset at MLB right now. Go Falcons.

“All of us at the general managers meeting when we talked about this format, it’s not a format that’s indicative of the best team,” Wren said. “When you’re playing for six months and 162 games, this is not a sport where you play 20 games. This is not a sport where you play a handful of games, and then one game is appropriate. This is a sport that’s about series, it’s about winning series. And one game is kind of a harsh reality.”

Bottom Line: There are plenty other ideas better than this one game playoff in which more than 1 game is played to determine who advances.

@241 – Follow the money. At the end of the day Selig doesn’t care about what’s best for the game, he cares about driving the biggest television ratings so that the broadcasting contracts will be as big as possible to get more money for the owners. Plain and simple. This one game playoff will never change. Get used to it.

Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez thinks Juan Francisco will get a chance to compete for the third base job next season, according to David O’Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Sure. An out of shape 3rd basemen who cant play defense, hit for average, get on base or run with any speed is perfect for 3rd base next year. Everyone knows we should just keep Prado in LF because it’s harder to find a left fielder than a 3rd baseman in this league.

@242 – Follow the money. They are probably going to extend Prado at potentially $10 million a year. Francisco is on your team making $480k. Liberty Media doesn’t care about what is best for the fans, or really for the team, they are all about doing it on the cheap and hoping for a miracle. Why pay $10 mill for a third baseman and then pay for a new left fielder too?

Braves have essentially $36.5 mill coming off of the books with Chipper, Lowe, Bourn, and JJ. If anyone out there thinks Liberty is turning that money around and dumping it back into the team, I have a bridge to sell you. They pick up options on McCann and Hudson, and then maybe add some minor pieces.

Wren offered that with this money he might be able to shop at Target instead of Wal-Mart. Doesn’t sound like we are in the market for any real players, to me.

Looking back, what it Beachy and McCann were healthy the whole season? Perhaps the Braves pass the Nationals and get to play in a 5-game series.

I know that’s a silly game to play because all teams deal with similar things. What if Strasburg has pitched the whole season, for example. But it points to the role of luck in sports (and life, not to get too serious here).

I’m still really struggling to he over the end of this season. I just KNEW we’d win. Why does Chipper rush his throw with Meds on the mound. Get 1 out and be happy. If we were able to stay in the lead guys would have relaxed and had better at bats. Can’t let it go! Need therapy!